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1. PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS2. FAIRY TALES, MYTHS, FOLKTALES, LEGENDS, FABLES3. AUTHOR’S MESSAGE

3RC2.6: find problems and solutions3RL3.2: fairy tales, myths, folktales, legends, and fables3RL3.4: determine theme or author’s message(6 questions on CST)

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PROBLEM & SOLUTION

Many authors will explain a problem and how it is solved.

Good readers can identify the problem and solution(s) to the problem.

Problem the car has a flat tire

Solution I installed the spare

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PROBLEM & SOLUTIONAustin’s toys kept disappearing from his room. His sister insisted that she wasn’t taking them. Who could it be? He set up a video camera to record what happened in his room while he was away. To his great surprise, he caught his dog, Buddy, taking the toys.

What is Austin’s problem?

His toys are disappearing, and he doesn’t know why.

How was Austin’s problem solved?He set up a video camera, and caught his dog in the act.

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FAIRY TALES

Short stories that contain magical characters such as: fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, or dwarves

Fairy tales contain magic.

Fairy tales could not possibly happen in real life.

“Once upon a time...”

Famous Fairy Tales: Cinderella The Emperor’s New

Clothes Jack and the

Beanstalk Little Red Riding Hood Rapunzel Rumpelstiltskin

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MYTHS & LEGENDS

MYTH LEGEND

Myths tend to be old stories of gods, goddesses, and heroes

Myths frequently explain natural occurrences

Myths describe the origin of the world or of a people

They often have a theme or moral lesson

Legends are made-up stories that are told as if they might have actually happened.

Famous legends are: Robin Hood King Arthur and the

Knights of the Round Table

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FOLKTALES & FABLES

FOLKTALES FABLES

short stories about ordinary people

they have been passed along by people in a similar culture

they point out cultural values

they often explain natural occurrences

fables have animals that speak like people

fables have morals or lessons about how to live life

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UNDERLYING THEME / AUTHOR’S MESSAGE

The THEME is what the writer wants you to REMEMBER MOST

You may have to do some detective work to find the theme. The author leaves clues that you have to put together. Use the following 3-step plan to find

the theme.

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3-STEP PLAN FOR DETERMINING THEMEB

ig Id

ea What are

the most important topics or “big ideas”? C

hara

cters What do

the characters do or say? What lesson did they learn?

Au

thor’

s M

ess

ag

eWhat is the author trying to say or communicate about a topic?

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A fly bit the head of a bald man. He tried to kill the fly by giving his head a very hard slap. The fly escaped, and said, “You tried to kill me for giving you a little bite, but instead you hurt yourself.” The bald man said that the fly was a terrible, blood-sucking creature. He would be willing to have slapped himself even harder if it would’ve killed the fly.

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What is the man’s problem in this passage?

(A) He is bald.(B) He was bitten by a fly.(C) He needed directions.(D) He couldn’t find the bug spray.

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What did the man do to try and solve his problem in this passage?(A) He went to the doctor.(B) He asked his neighbor for help.(C) He slapped his head.(D) He bought a fly trap.

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At the end of the story, why didn’t the man kill the fly?(A) He wasn’t fast enough.(B) He felt sorry for the fly.(C) He and the fly became friends.(D) He didn’t believe in killing anything.

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Which of these is a theme in this fable?

(A) Bald is beautiful.(B) Family is very important.(C) Freedom is worth fighting for.(D) We hurt ourselves when trying to get

revenge on others.